Transport and shipping dolly



Aug. 10, 1948. G. B. ARNOLD ET Al. 2,446,518

TRANSPORT AND SHIPPING DOLLY Filed Nov. 8, 1944 l :s sheets-sheet 1 GEORGE B.ARN0| D .TRACY B.TYLER ATTORNEYS R Aug. 10, 1948. G. B. ARNOLD ETAL 2,446,518.

TRANSPORT AND SHIPPING DOLLY- INVENTORS GEORGE B. ARNOLD TRACY B.TYLER Fl i ATTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1948. G. B. ARNOLD ET AL 2,446,518

TRANSPORT AND ySIIIPPIKI DOLLY A Filed NOV. 8, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N mmol INVENToRs .GEORGE B ARNoLD By TRACY B TYLER ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 10,` 1948 l yUNHWID STATES PATENT GF-FICE GeorgeB. Arnold, Coral Gables, .and Tracy B. Tyler, Miami Beach, Fla.

Application'November 8, 1944,;Serial No, 5ft-2,1186A (Cl. 28B-43.)

I I1 Claims.

This invention relates to cargo transporting devices, and particularly to such devices as adapted .to transportation .of cargo. by airplanes, and more speciiicallyto v,transportation of power plants-or engines in airplanestho-ugh it iswell sutedto such transportation by ground vehicles .as well` as airl vehicles.

A primeobiect of the invention is .to provide asupporting device for an yengine .or other cargo distributed overv as large an .area as possible when battened to the floor of an airplane, whichlatter, as is known, is-.of comparatively lightstructure.

Other objects of the invention are.:v (I) to provide self-contained means for extending or retractingrollers or casters; means ior locking the casters in operating position, and .means .for locking casters against swivel rotation; (2l to provide a relatively narrow and compact struc- Vtur-e that will permit 'the `device .and its cargo to be moved and turned through'narrow doorways and spaces; (3) to provide a structure oflightness so that air shipping weight will 'be reduced-'toa minimum; (4) to provide a structure that is adapted to beV readily and easily ypickedup` and 'lifted by a fork lift truck, or simiiar means; '(5) to provide a structure wherein the-'center of gravity of" an engine transported'thereon'is as low as door clearance requred'by the engine itself 'will permit, and having rails lor skids disposed slightly below the lowerxnost .point of ytlfie engine for the protection thereof.v when-being moved over rough surfaces.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art .upon referenoefto .the follow'mg description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l .isa top. plan view. of .the 4device embodying the present invention.

.2 is aside viewof thesame and indicating an engine mountedthereon.

Fig. 3 is an end viewas from the left -ofgFig 2.

Fig. 4 is asectional view-of-.a detail of the construction :at one ofv the corners. Y

Fig. .5 is a..sectional View on line 5--5 .of Figf ure 4.

Fig. .Sis a sectional-view of .an optional form of easter retraction .locking device.

Fig. "lis a sectional view of a partof the structure .of Fig, 8 taken at yright .angles tothe section ofv the latter;

Fig. .8 is avpartlysectional view of a preferred form .of caster retractionilock.

Fig.V 9 is .another view of the same `as from the right-of Fig. 8.

Fig; i0 `isa perspective view. showing a .detail of construction of the lock of Figs. aand Inthe drawings `there is .shown a dolly embodyingthepresent invention and designed for .the yhandling .and shipping vby plane or other transport means of an airplane engine. lSuch an engine :indicated in. dotted .lines 'in Fig. `2'.

Tlredolly is shcwnfas consisting of a rectangnlar vframe preferably constructed of tubingY and constitutingofside .members 20 Vand cross mem- .bers 2l, the vside-members having welded at 'their Aends short vertical piecesZA to the tops of which are welded-extensions 20B, suitable gussets or braces20C, being used additionally. to stien the side members. This formation .of the side members .20 produces a drop frame construction 4which places `the bottom plane of the frame only a short distance vfrom zthe surface upon which the dollyvmayfbe standinge-an advantage referred to hereinafter.-

Extendingacross the frame between the extenstonsfB raretadditionalwelded in cross .members 22 serving further to strengthen the-frame and for another flater :appearing purpose.

Between the extreme ends-ofthe side'mem.- bersare monntedthe cross members23. These are'txibular and have fixed 4to theirvendsv stirrups 23AV (see Figs. 4; Y5, and 9) #which embracefthe ends ofthe extensions v211B and are provi-ded with through bolts Z'and spacer sleeves 24A serving as spindies Within suitable bushings or vbearings '24B icedinthe extensions 20B. This arrangement vpermits the partial 'rotation ofmembers 3 23 and stirrups 23A-the latter from below to above extension B or vice-versa.

As shown, there are mounted upon each of the 'stirrups 23A a suitable caster 25, preferably so located that the wheel spindle A, when in dolly supporting position, is always back of the axis of bearing 24B. With the casters 25 so mounted upon the rotatable member 23, they may be moved .from their position under the fra-me to a position above the frame extensions 20B so as to lower the frame and allow -it to rest upon the side members 20.

Mounted upon theY side members 20 are suit.- able members forming a cradleor support for the machine vor other article-inthe present case an airplane engineto be handled or shipped.

tion 46A beveled on its lower side to form a latch. The bolt 46 is limited in its movement by means of a pin 46B xed in Ithe tube 45 and passing through a slot 46C in the rear end of the bolt. The latch 46A coac'ts with a short tube 41 passing diametrically through and welded in tube 23 adjacent a caster 25 (see Fig. 9).

Mounted below the tube 41 is another tube 48 counterbored as shown. In this tube 48 is a shaft 49 having at one end a head 49A larger than the tube but having a reduced portion 49B slidably and rotatably tting in the tube end. At the other end, the shaft 49 passes, out of the tube and carries alfinger platef50 which is slotted as Vat SBA so as to engage a pair of cooperating slots V-59B, one disposed in either side of the shaft.

For the form of engine indicated these sup-r ports are shown to be two vertically arrangedA i.

members and 3l, the former, member 30, c onsisting of a tube bent and mounted at 30A as an, inverted U upon the drop portion of side members 20 near the vertical portion lZIIAand suit-l ;Y

Over the end of the shaft is placed a collar 5I having 'diametrical openings adapted to register with an opening inthe shaft for the reception of af pull ring 52, serving to maintain the assembly.

' 'Inside of tube 4B between the end of the counterboref-andhead :portion 49B is a spring 49C ably braced by the diagonals 30B weldedto tube v 3l! at 30C and bolted to side member extension' ZUB bymeans of a suitable racket 311D, this being welded to the brace 30B andv bolted to member 20B. Suitable bolts A301i! 'pass throughthe tube 30 andix the engine thereto.-v I

The member 3| is shown as consisting ofan inverted V of tubing welded to the lower half 'ofa split ring 3|A adapted to embrace a'suitable part ,of the engine. The two legs of the V extend to and may be secured to the extensions 20B at the other end of the side members 20 in similar Vfashion as braces 30B. It is of course obvious that the supporting members 3B and 3| may take such form as to be suitable to any engine or'other device or cargo to be carried or shipped. It is also obvious that their longitudinal positions are determinedbythe character of the vcargo, and that there may be .a plurality of pre-pared positions to provide for different lengths of cargo.

11n order to maintain the casters 25in supporting position,v particularly when moving the dolly, means must be providedfor locking either the casters'prthe'tubes 23 to which their upper stirrups are afiixed. Two such locking devices are shown.v One form is shown inv Figs. 1, 2 and 6, and consistsy of short `tube 40 passing diametrically Vthroughand welded fto cross tube or member 23 acting as a socket or keeper for the end of a bolt`4l, which latter isslidably carried in a tube 4 2 passing through and welded inV tube 22. This tube 42 .is counterbored to provide a shoulder 42A against which reacts a suitablespring 42B and, through va shoulder 42C on the bolt, tends toforce the latter toward the keeper 4 0. The rear end of tube 4 2' is slotted as at `42D and a `suitable ring 43 passedthrough a hole inthe rear end of the bolt 4 i This ring serves to maintainthe parts in assembly and= also will maintain the bolt 4l in retracted position when given arquarter turn. 1 z

As shown in Fig. l, each of the tubes 23 will be provided with the lock. i

r The other and preferred .form of lock is shown in iFigs. 3k and 7 to n10; and four of these will be used, one for each caster. In -this form, the tube .Y

22- will also be providediwith a tube passing diametrically therethrough.y In this case, however, thelthrough tube 45 is counterboredto provide a shoulder 45A asan abutment for a spring 45B acting against a Yshoulderwon a bolt 46 slidably mounted in tube 45 and having a projecting poriixedatbne end to this head portion and at its other end to the tube 4 8 so as to enable it to be used both as a torsion spring and as a compression spring,

At the end' next collar 5L- the tube 48 is provided with two'fingers 48A (see Fig.'10) of such Width as to t easily into finger slot 50A, while the collars 5l is also provided with ngers 5 EA adapted to extend through the finger plate 50 opposite 'the slots BBB, suitable aperture-50C through Vthe ringer platebeing provided for this'purpose.

Fumer-,rane head 49A or shaft as is provided with a' ilat substantially radial extension 49C as shown in'Fig. 9. This extension 43C is adapted to cooperate with a suitablenotch 53A in the plate 53- xed to the roller stirrup or fork of the caster 25; Onel such notch 53A is provided in the iplate 53 at such point that, when the extension 49C is engaged therein, the roller will be parallel with the-'longitudinal centerline of the dolly and in its outward swivel positionto present least bias to retraction rotation about spindles 24.

In thefoperat'ion of this lock, when the parts arein'unlocked position, the shaft 49 and parts carriedtthereby, arefin such radial position that the 'nger 5D lies lover. the end of tube 41 and the head extension 149C held above and out of contact with plate 53 by'engagement of fingers 48A in ngerplateaperture 56A. At the same time, the latch 46A`is in the end of tube 41, thereby locking tube 23 againstturning.

. In order' to rotate tube 2 3 and thereby the casters from operative position to their upper and inoperative position, a suitable rod or hand lever is inserted into tubeV 41. as a socket. But such a rodvis prevented fromentering the tube 41 by `the finger 50. To' move thecasters, it istherefore necessary to move finger 50. to one side. This may be done by pullingV ring 5,2sov as to slide 4the fingers 48A out of ythe vslot 50A to Vpermitshaft 49 to turn. In- Fig. 8, these parts are shown in the position assumed when the nger is ready to be moved. The shaft 49, however, cannot rotate far enough toi-move 4nger 50 away from tube 41 until the caster is solaligned thatthe notch 53A is in position to `receivetheextension 49C on the head 49h-'of shaft-49. WhenI theV extension 49C drops 'into the-notch 53A, the rod or hand lever may beinsertedintube 41 and the'latch 46A thereby 'pushed out of engagement, thus permitting the tube 23 to turn. l i

framelto assume ajrolling condition or'retracted Yto vcausesaid frame to rest in non-rolling condition on any general supporting surface, vand means for fasteningI said frameV tothe 'generally supporting surface when it is resting pthereupon .in noni-rolling condition, said meansincluding batten members iioatingly carried vby said frame andlreversible whereby to; provide forlonger or shorter :prepared attaching positions ,on said suraface. l 1

5. A device for supporting cargo in transit comprising lin combination a frameof substantially dition' onanygeneral supporting surface, said wheels being larger in diameter than the distance from the bottom of the frame side members to the 'general supportingsurface when the device isin rolling condition, means for Vfastening said fram'e tolthe general supporting surface when it is resting thereupon in non-rolling condition, means forlocking said Wheels against non-intended ren traction' when in'rolling. position, detachable cargo supports being provided on said frame and means whereby said Vcargo supports rmay be adjusted to accommodate cargoof varioussizes.

C 6. Adevice for supporting cargo in transit comprising in combination a frame of substantially rectangular form, having side members and cross members, said framebeing-of welded tube construction, said side members adapted to function as skids, aswivel mounted .wheel .at each corner of said frame, the transverse center line of said :is: resting thereupon in non-.rollingcondition,A .au- -tomatic means for `locking said wheels against knon-intended retraction when in rollingvposition, Ameans for locking said wheels against swivel rotationin a predetermined swivel position, means to prevent release of said wheel retraction locks until swivel locks are engaged, detachable cargo supports of tubular material being provided on said `frame and means whereby said cargo supports may be adjusted to accommodate cargo` of various sizes.

7. A device for supporting "cargo in transit comprising, in combination; a frame of substantially rectangular form, having side members andcross members, said side members having intermediate portions at a lower level than the Vrest of the frame and adapted to function as skids, a wheel at each corner of saidframe, the transverse centerfline of the wheel's'b'eing substantially in line with said side nriembers,` rotatable shafts supporting said wheels'V whereby Vsaid wheels may be extended'or retracted to cause .said frame to assume' a rolling condition or to restin non-.rolling condition on any general supporting surface, said wheels being larger in diameter than the distance from the bottom of the frame side members to thev general supporting surface when the device is-in rolling condition, locking elements -for holding said wheels against non-intended retraction when inrolling position, andcargo supports adjustable to accommodate cargo of various sizes detachably secured to said frame. y

8..A device for supporting cargo in transit comprising, in combination, a frame having a pair of side membersand cross members extending between and Afixed to said side members, said side members having dropped intermediate por- .Y tions offset from the extremeties of said `side members vto form a pair of `substantially parallel skids, cargo engaging'members for supporting cargo on Asaid frame, wheels for said frame, shafts rotatably mounted upon said side member extremities, and supporting said wheels on axes offset from` the axes of said shafts, the said wheelsV being movable withsaid shafts so that `when said shafts are rotatably turned in one vdirection said wheels will be forced upwardly in an arcuate path to permit said skids to rest upon a general supporting surface for supporting said frame in non-rolling condition and when said shaftsare rotatably turned in the4 opposite direction said wheels will Vbe forced downwardly in an arcuatepathinto engagement with the general -supporting surface beneath said side member extremities to jack said skids into elevatedposition thereby rollably to support said frame and devices carried by said shafts and adapted to be engaged Vby lever means for rotatably turning said shafts.

9. The device of claim 8 whereinthedevices whereby the shafts may be rotatably turned comprise hollow tubular members carried transversely of the shafts.

10. A device `for supporting cargo in transit comprising, inycombination, a frame having a pair of side members and cross members extending between and fixed to'said side members, said side members having dropped intermediate .portions offset from the extremities of said side members to form a pair of substantially parallel skids, cargo engaging members for supporting cargo on said frame, wheels for said frame, shafts rotatably=mounted upon said side member extremities, and supporting said wheels on axes oiset from the axes of said shafts, the said wheels beingmovablewith said shafts so that when said shafts are rotatably turned in one direction said wheels will be forced upwardlyin an arcuate path to permit said skids to rest upon a general supporting surface for supporting said kframe in non-rolling condition and when said shafts are rotatably turned in the opposite direction, said wheels' will be forced downwardly in-an :arcuate path into engagement with the lgeneralf supportingv surface beneath saidA side member extremities to jack Vsaid skids into elevatedposition 'thereb'yrollably toV support said frame, devices carried by said shafts and adapted toibe engaged by lever means for rotatably turn- -ing said shafts. and retractable members carried by said frame and engagable with said shafts tolock saidvwheels 1in their lowermost position -rollablysupportingsaid frame.'` Y 1 11 ."I 'h e device of claimvlO wherein the devices whereby the shafts Vmay be rotatably turned comprise tubular sockets1 Acarried transversely of the shafts and wherein the retractable members for 9 locking said wheels are engagable with said Number sockets when said members are in extended lock- 1,008,173 ing position. 1,027,686 GEORGE B. ARNOLD. 1,154,370 TRACY B. TYLER. 1,355,173 1,374,986 REFERENCES CITED 1,560,164 The following references are of record in the 13341157 le of this potent: 135'7'468 lo 2,003,162 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,279,866 Number Name Date 2,319,531

431,953 Pinckney July 8, 1890 459,365 Linden Sept. 8, 1891 554,359 Breed Feb. 11, 1896 15 Numbe 827,966 Flake Aug. 7, 190e 33,978

Name Date McCloy Nov. 7, 1911 Bollinger May 28, 1912 Burke Sept. 21, 1915 Shadel et al Oct. 12, 1920 Carter Apr. 19, 1921 Jarnagin Nov. 3, 1925 Wilhelm, Sr. Mar. 1, 1932 McGnness May 10, 1932 Ulmer May 28, 1935 Ellinwood Apr. 14, 1942 Brownlee et al May 18, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Oct. 23, 1928 

